Executive search consultant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an executive search consultant. Executive search consultants usually study business, psychology, or marketing. 74% of executive search consultants hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 845 real executive search consultant resumes to see exactly what executive search consultant education sections show.

The most common colleges for executive search consultants are the Ohio State University and the Ohio State University.

There are also many online executive search consultant courses to help get the education required to be an executive search consultant.

There are certain executive search consultant certifications that you should consider. These executive search consultant certifications include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

What education do you need to become an executive search consultant?

What degree do you need to be an executive search consultant?

The most common degree for executive search consultants is bachelor's degree, with 74% of executive search consultants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 15% and master's degree degree at 7%.

Bachelor's, 74%

Master's, 15%

Associate, 7%

Doctorate, 2%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an executive search consultant?

You should major in business to become an executive search consultant. 26% of executive search consultants major in business. Other common majors for an executive search consultant include psychology and marketing.

Business, 26%

Psychology, 10%

Marketing, 7%

Communication, 7%

Other Majors, 50%

Most common colleges for executive search consultants

Executive search consultants often get their degrees at Ohio State University, University of Phoenix, and University of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for executive search consultants in the US based on their resumes.

Executive search consultant common college	Percentages
Ohio State University	9.09%
University of Phoenix	7.07%
University of Houston	6.06%
Indiana University Bloomington	5.05%
Pennsylvania State University	5.05%

Show more common executive search consultant colleges

Best majors for executive search consultants

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	26.4%
2	Psychology	9.9%
3	Marketing	7.3%
4	Communication	7.0%
5	Human Resources Management	5.5%

Show more common executive search consultant majors

Best colleges for executive search consultants

The best colleges for executive search consultants are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

An executive search consultant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for executive search consultants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become executive search consultants.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

20 best online courses for executive search consultants

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2. Learn to Job Search with Indeed

By the end of this course, you will be able to search for the exact job that you want to be in, in the correct location, with the desired salary you want. You will also know where to look for accurate salary information, company data, and how to find information on a certification...

3. Boolean Search for Recruitment & Sourcing (Human Resource)

4.4

(2,370)

Boolean Search, Boolean Operators, Boolean String, Google Advanced Search, Xray Search for HR Professionals...

4. [2023] Career Hacking: World's Bestselling Job Search Course

4.6

(9,128)

Supercharge your job search! Boost your resume, Linked In® Profile, cover letter, interviewing & networking skills +more!...

5. Job Search Success Strategies: Proven Job Hunting Strategies

4.5

(314)

You Want to Land Your Dream Job? Learn How to Impress Recruiters, Beat the Competition and Win Job Interviews!...

6. Job Search Tips & Career Development PLUS ChatGPT Tips

4.7

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Get the job you want, build your career and learn essential Chat GPT tips for job search success and career growth...

7. Google Search-Master Class

(577)

Use Google Search as a Professional...

8. Advanced Executive Recruiting & Hiring

4.5

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Master the critical elements of executive hiring and consistently bring the best talent into your team!...

9. Management Consulting Cases for Job Interview

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A practical guide on how to prepare for a case interview and how to get into consulting firms Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Pw C,...

10. Management Consulting Essential Training

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11. The eParachute Introduction to Your Career and Job Search

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13. Complete Management Coaching Course - Executive Coaching

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Management Coaching - Learn all Aspects of Coaching, Career Coaching and Executive Coaching - Master Coaching...

14. Consulting Business: How to Start a Consulting Business

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Consulting Business 90-Step Startup + 5-Phase Consulting Business Proposal Plan to Start Consulting Business Fast...

15. Executive Briefing: Natural Language Processing (NLP)

4.5

(2,510)

Natural Language Processing for Executives and Top-Level Managers: understand NLP in under 30 Minutes...

16. Using LinkedIn to Get a Job Without Going Crazy

4.5

(455)

A Practical Guide for Job Seekers...

17. Executive Coaching and Business Case Development

(256)

The Guide to Executive Coaching and Business Case Development Success...

18. Recruitment Interviewing Essentials: Interviewing Made Easy

4.5

(5,413)

Start hiring confidently, interview skilfully & make recruitment decisions professionally. Avoid costly hiring mistakes...

19. Google Advanced Search: Find Stuff Like a Boss

(1,163)

Become an Expert Googler...

20. Financial Statement Auditing Cycles

4.3

(251)

In this course, we learn how public accountants plan and execute an audit...

Top 10 most affordable universities for executive search consultants

The most affordable schools for executive search consultants are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for executive search consultants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for executive search consultants.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. University of Houston - Victoria

Victoria, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$6,491

Cost of attendance

19,075

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for executive search consultants

The hardest universities for executive search consultants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for executive search consultants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for executive search consultants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for executive search consultants

The easiest schools for executive search consultants to get into are Barry University, holy names university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an executive search consultant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for executive search consultants.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

6. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average executive search consultant salary by education level

According to our data, executive search consultants with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $82,351 annually. Executive search consultants with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $76,008.

Executive search consultant education level	Executive search consultant salary
Master's Degree	$76,008
High School Diploma or Less	$55,410
Bachelor's Degree	$67,751
Doctorate Degree	$82,351
Some College/ Associate Degree	$55,620

Executive search consultant education FAQs

What is the best college for Executive Search Consultants?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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